2012 DU Recruit Daniel Doremus On Fire In USHL

The most improved player in the USHL this season may be University of Denver 2012 recruit Daniel Doremus (6'1 192 lbs) from Aspen, Colorado. That's not to say that big things weren't expected from Doremus by the Sioux Falls Stampede. The Stampede selected the 18 year-old forward with their first round selection in the USHL Draft last year.

Before deciding to play junior hockey in South Dakota, Doremus received overtures from Canadian teams in AJHL & BCHL. Playing midget hockey for the Colorado Thunderbirds under DU alums Angelo Ricci and Shawn Kurulak, Doremus became one of the brightest prospects in Colorado youth hockey.

A week ago Friday, Doremus scored a game winner with 4.8 seconds remaining in a game against Cedar Rapids. A week later he scored another game winner with 41 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Stampede to a 4-3 win over Tri-City Friday night in Kearney, Nebraska. On Sunday he scored a goal and an assist against the Lincoln Stars to propel Sioux City to their 7th straight win.

Doremus had 9 goals and 10 assists in his first 36 USHL games. In his last 8 games, he has 6 goals and two assists. Needless to say, he has played a major role in the recent success of Sioux Ciry.

The hottest player on the hottest team in the USHL may be a Pioneer earlier than 2012, if he continues at this rate. He will be 19 years-old in October, so perhaps DU will bring him in a year early as was the case with Tyler Ruegsegger in 2006.

Not sure what LaLeggia's draft situation will be this summer. He's just put up some massive numbers in the BCHL and walked away with the conference MVP & MVD. Perhaps a Stanly Cup contender would be willing to throw a draft pick his way.

Laleggia is listed at 5'10 180. From what I've read online he might be closer to 5'8. Either way not exactly your prototypical NHL blueliner.

There's a good discussion online about LaLeggia's NHL draft potential.

Any particular reason why you think Nick Shore would be drafted in the 1st or 2nd rounds? He's a good player, and I think he's got a lot of potential. But I wonder if you're projecting a Drew Shore-like improvement for him during his sophomore year, which is not necessarily realistic. If he improves as much as Drew did, I could see him being taken in the 2nd round. Otherwise, I'm not sure he would even be taken in the first 4 rounds.

NHL teams look at early 1st round picks as players ready or almost ready to play in the NHL, usually those in the first 5. Everyone else in the first round is expected to complete their Canadian junior eligibility or spend at least another year or two in college and then play in the AHL for at least year. The Canadian junior players get invited to the NHL camps and many make it to the final cuts beofre being sent back to their junior teams.

Second rounders are expected to complete their junior eligibility or play two to three years in college and then play one to two years in the AHL. These junior players are also typically invited to the NHL camp. After the second round things get dicier.

Third round selections and below are expected to finish their junior careers and college players will typically play at least three years with many finishing all four years. The junior players will typically be invited to their team's NHL training camp after they have finished their junior careers and will be assigned to either the AHL or ECHL. The number of players that make NHL rosters and have significant careers genereally drops off after the second round but there are always the late bloomers and surprise players that make it. The later a player is picked,the chances of making it the NHL decline as the rounds tick off.

Keep in mind that NHL teams are looking at players and projecting what they will be several years in the future, not what they are now. Typically scouts are looking for big players that can skate, shoot and play with an edge. Smaller players with all of the skills are at a disadvantage but there will always be some like Martin St. Louis that are stars no matter what their size. Scouting for the draft is an art and a crapshoot. You are picking 18 years old that you project to be NHL players generally a few years in the future. There are very few can't miss players.